What Is Linux

In this first editorial I will attempt to give you an idea of what Linux is and what it will be. I also want to give you an idea of what (and who) Linux Journal is and what we see as our mission.

Where did Linux Journal
come from?

About a year ago I was talking to some friends about the
ideaof starting a free software magazine. After a few meetings we
realized that “free” was a very arbitrary term and what was really
needed was a magazine that looks for the best value in software for
the consumer. We quickly realized this would be a huge effort and
how the subcription cost would be high because it couldn't carry
advertising if it was to be totally objective. After all, companies
with the biggest advertising budget seldom have the lowest
prices.

At that time I had started playing with Linux. Having run
Unixon PCs for about 8 years I was interested to see what Linux had
to offer. I quickly came to the conclusion that Linux was
betterthan many commercial Unix systems and was rapidly growing
intoan amazingly nice product. I mentioned the idea of a Linux
magazine to the team I had been working with on the free software
magazine expecting them to discount it. Instead virtually all of
themthought it was a good idea.

I distributed a questionnaire at a local Linux meeting and
alsoon the Internet. Again, feedback was very positive so we
decided that LJ was the way to go. After a few
disasters we managed to hook up with Bob Young, publisher of New
York Unix, and you see the result. Where we go from here is up to
you. Initial articles and columnsare based on the interests
expressed in the questionnaires that were returned. I encourage
you, the reader to write or e-mail me with what you want to see in
LJ. Our goal is to further theinterests of the
Linux community. You are that community so let us know what you
want.